David Curry writes about the larger mission of digital libraries.
“However, in the larger sector I argue for here, one perceives that efforts to bridge institution-type silos and the professional traditions supporting them are ‘faltering’ at a time when ‘flourishing’ would be the preferred descriptor. The ability to conceive of governance structures which might address the opportunity is not helped by this situation.
Unless boards of trustees and governance leadership engage this opportunity, it will be a slog rather than the sprint it could be.”
From David Curry’s post on the “knowledge::heritage stewardship…digital leverage” blog, “The DPLA and its larger promise…”
Gloria Gonzalez celebrates linked open data.
“We have a vast amount of information on the internet, but we are missing the relationships needed to reach, discover and use this information to its fullest potential. Cultural heritage institutions and gatekeepers of knowledge are looking to provide open, linked data and help to build a better internet. Ed Summers, an Information Technology Specialist for the Office of Strategic Initiatives here at the Library maintains, ‘Linking makes the provenance of the items explicit, which will continue to be important to researchers on the Web. But perhaps more importantly it gives institutions a reason to participate in the project as a whole.'”
From Gloria Gonzalez’s guest post on “The Signal,” “Linked Open Data: A Beckoning Paradise”
Dan Stasiewski announces OverDrive’s DRM-free eBook distribution.
“All DRM-free eBooks are available under the one-copy/one-user model, which means you can add a copy to your collection and one user at a time can borrow the title from the library. Just like all other OverDrive-supplied content, the titles will be borrowed for a set amount of time and when that lending period is up, another user can check out the title.”
From Dan Stasiewski’s post on the OverDrive “Digital Library Blog,” “DRM-free eBooks are now available to libraries”
Tracey Bryant writes about digital archiving at the University of Delaware.
“To bring these historic American treasures to the public eye, the University of Delaware in collaboration with the University of Oregon is now launching the Sampler Archive Project, a major effort to build a national digital archive and searchable database of samplers stitched by American girls in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. UD won a $300,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to develop the resource.”
From Tracey Bryant’s post on “UDaily,” “Stitches in time go online”